Former youth pastor pleads guilty to sex crimes involving minor
UPDATE (6/9/25): Former youth pastor in Jackson sentenced to prison
JACKSON, Tenn. — A former youth pastor in Jackson pleads guilty to sex crimes involving a minor.
40-year-old Ryan Kelley McElrath is charged with statutory rape by an authority figure, sexual battery by an authority figure, and aggravated statutory rape. The charges stem from a May 2024 incident that occurred at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, which involved a 17-year-old female. McElrath was working as a youth pastor at the church at the time.
Records show that Monday morning, McElrath entered a plea agreement at the U.S. District Court for the Western Division of Tennessee in Jackson, which the court accepted.
This comes after McElrath originally entered a not guilty plea, according to records.
According to the plea agreement, due to pleading guilty to an applicable offense, McElrath will be placed on the national sex offender registry.
Sentencing has been set for Friday, May 9 at 10:30 a.m., before Judge S. Thomas Anderson. At this time, McElrath remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Details within the agreement show that McElrath could face anywhere between 10 years to life in prison, along with a maximum fine of $250,000.
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